Devon and Cornwall Police is holding a two week amnesty for the surrender of unlawfully held or unwanted firearms and ammunition.

The amnesty will start at 8am next Monday (November 3) and run until November 17.

Members of the public can hand in items at police stations in Camborne and Truro, as well as Exeter (Heavitree Road), Torquay, Plymouth (Charles Cross and Crownhill), Barnstaple, Bodmin and St Austell.

They will be able to do this without fear of prosecution for possession, while at the same time disposing of their weapons safely.

Police are asking people to surrender unlawfully held or unwanted guns and ammunition to help avoid them getting into the wrong hands and potentially becoming involved in criminality.

Officers would like to take out of circulation any firearms, which includes guns which can still be fired, antique weapons, replica weapons, air weapons, BB guns, stun guns and ammunition.

They believe many firearms could be held in ignorance of their illegality or may be overlooked or forgotten in people’s homes.

These include trophies of war which have been inherited from a relative, or guns thought to be harmless antiques.

The law on who can possess antique guns has recently changed, and for this reason some people who possess them may not now do so legally. The changes mean that someone who has served or received a criminal sentence can no longer possess an antique gun.

The sentencing guidelines for possession for sale or transfer of an unauthorised firearm or ammunition have also been raised. This offence now carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Operations Chief Inspector Dan Evans said: “If you are in any way uncertain about the legality of a weapon or ammunition that you possess, if there’s even a shadow of doubt, we would urge you to hand it in.

“Gun crime in the UK has continued to fall year on year for the last ten years. We are not complacent about gun crime, however, which is why we are conducting the amnesty now, we want as many guns as possible to be handed in and so make our communities safer.”

Anyone handing in a firearm during the amnesty is advised to check the opening times of their station.

To receive advice on how best to transport the weapon responsibly from home to the police station call 101 before travelling, or to seek advice if you cannot attend one of the participating amnesty points.

During the amnesty those surrendering firearms will not face prosecution for illegal possession and they can remain anonymous. However, the history of each live weapon will be checked for evidence of its use in crimes.

The firearms amnesty is being held in conjunction with the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS).

The locations and opening times of police stations where people can hand in firearms and ammunition as well as more information and frequently asked questions can be found online at www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/firearms-amnesty

Camborne Police Station and Truro Police Station are both open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (closed 1.15pm to 2pm) and are not open Saturdays and Sundays.